This last project has me re-evaluating what I thought I was capable of, and realizing that most of my percieved limitations and barriers have been self-imposed! This feels like some kind of awakening! I’m feeling so greatly empowered, strong and capable; and yet at the same time, bittersweet at the realization that I’ve been my own biggest limiter! I don’t necessarily need to know how to do everything, or how it’s all gong to come together, before I can start. I JUST HAVE TO START! WOW! I feel like a self-help guru this week!

This week I was tackling my tiny living room! The living room is a narrow rectangle, and not separated from the kitchen; so I decided to build a wall! Thereby dividing the rooms, and creating more wall space to hang my very large paintings.

I went back to home depot, where the fine folks there helped me plan out how to build a 5 foot room divider wall. Since I was doing it all myself, I picked out the lightest sheet rock available, ( 1/4” since that was as much as I could lift! ) and used 2×3’s to make the frame. I also wanted to avoid disturbing the plaster walls, so my entire wall would be almost free-standing, only anchored by a few screws into the exposed support beam along the ceiling.

THIS WAS HARD!

Just getting the sheet rock home was a challenge! Each piece is like a giant heavy 4 foot by 8 foot cracker, ready to snap at any moment! I drove home very slowly with it all strapped into my truck, tailgate open, red flag hanging off the back, and hazards on. Then I almost blew away trying to get it all into the house– it was like a sail!

Once inside– I hard to figure out how to build the frame ( did I mention, I’ve never done anything like this before!) Then once the frame was built, size and cut up the sheet rock and attach it! Once the sheet rock was all mounted, I had to tape and spackle the ends and seams. After that was dry, I used a scrubbing sponge from the kitchen to smooth over the spackle (its less messy than sand paper). Then finally, it all had to be painted !

THIS WAS REALLY REALLY HARD!

BUT I DID IT!!

I BUILT A WALL!!

I CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

( I may be roaring, however my back is whimpering, and has requested that I keep the heavy lifting to a minimum )